Rotary inking mechanism



' oct. 24, 1939. c. A, HARLESS 2,177,253'

ROTARY INKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. is, 193B 7 lslums-sheet 1 l I .5 i f4 x ,f 75 1'/v 47 1 x l il 45 6 J7 45 f pl X 0% 24, 1939. c. A. HARLEss- ROTARY INKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 y, n W y ATTORNEYS I 0d- 24, 1939 c. A. HARLEss ROTARY INKING MECHANISM Filed nec. 1s, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNENTOR C. A. HARLESS ROTARY INKING MEGHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY Q l a Z ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1939. c, A HARLESS 2,177,253

ROTARY INKING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, v1939. c. A. HARLEss ROTARY INKING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 lvENToR FY l W ATroRNEYS 24, 1939. C. A, HARLESS 2,177,253

ROTARY INKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to The Goss Printing Press Company, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Chicago,

Application December 13, 1938, Serial No. 245,363

21 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in inking mechanisms for rotary printing presses, and more especially to such improvements in the ductor roller actuating and governing mechanism in rotary presses capacitated to print in a single color and in multi-color.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together With the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention as adapted to a press printing in a single color;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detached detail of a dwell regulating device shown at the upper left hand in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is an elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention and adapted to a press printing in one color or a plurality of colors;

Fig. 7--A is a view taken on line la- 1a of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 to 12 are detached detail views of the various interacting levers shown in Figs. 7 and 7--A; and

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3|3 of Fig. 7.

Objects of the invention are to provide a novel and useful inking mechanism for fast running rotary printing presses which has simple, sturdy and reliable means for operating, and for nicely and reliably regulating the travel of a ductor roller and its coaction, respectively, with a fountain roller and an ink drum or the like; to provide for exact regulation and variation, over a relatively wide range, in the dwell of the ductor at the fountain roller; to provide very simple and exact means for effecting said regulation; to provide such mechanism and such exact control and regulation for ductor rollers of varying size; to provide such mechanism and' control capacitated for use in presses having a plurality of ink fountains, for instance, in presses adapted to printing either in a single color or in multi-color; to provide in such a machine a nice control and regulation required for printing in one color and also a different control and regulation required for color printing.

With these and other objects in View, the present p-referred embodiment, illustrated herewith, comprises a ductor roller actuating shaft having radially-extending arms in which the ductor roller is rotatably mounted. The ductor roller governing and actuating mechanism comprises two angled, side-by-side actuating levers loosely mounted on said ductor roller shaft, these levers having cam rollers mounted in their inner ends,

respectively, in side-by-side relationship, the cam rollers cooperating with two side-by-side rotating cams fixed on the fountain roller shaft. One of these cams and its lever mechanism effects and governs the travel of the ductor roller between the fountain roller and ink drum and its dwell there, and the other cam and its lever mechanism regulates the dwell of the ductor roller at the fountain roller. Means are provided for varying and regulating the angular relation or position of the two angled, cam-actuated levers, both with respect to each other and to the ductor roller shaft, such means being located at the outer and spaced apart ends of the levers. For this purpose, a regulating arm is keyed to the ductor roller shaft, and in the outer end of this arm there is mounted a rod which is longitudinally stationary but is rotatable and has screw-threaded engagement with nuts which are pivotally mounted in said outer, free ends of the two angled levers. By rotating the screw-threaded rod, the two actuating levers are moved concurrently either toward or away from each other, and the angular relation of the two levers with respect to each other and to the ductor roller shaft may be varied to adapt and adjust the system for ductor rollers of different diameters. For the purpose of varying the dwell of the ductor roller at the fountain roller there is further individual, screw-threaded adjustment between the previously described screw rod and the free end of the actuating lever carrying the dwell-determining cam roller which is independent of or in addition to the concurrent regulation of the two actuating levers previously described. In the embodied adaptation of the invention to a press having a plurality of ink fountains, and capacitated to print in one color or in another color, two ink fountains and two fountain rollers and two ductor rollers for alternative use are provided in a well-known ,mannen and a single system of actuating and regulating levers for the ductor roller of the character described are provided, capacitated to afford the varied regulation requisite for these two different kinds of printing. A spring acts to impel the lever system, the shaft and ductor roller toward the fountain roller, the actual movement, however, being under control of the cams. It will be understood that the foregoing general description, and the following detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory of the invention, but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now to the embodimentY of tl'ie invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 a mechanism employing a single fountain and ductor roller such as is especially capacitated for the inking mechanism of a one color rotary press. As embodied, an ink fountain Iy in which rotates a fountain roller 2, is mounted on a` shaft 6, the shaft being journaled in the fountain side walls or in the press frame. These may be of any known or suitable form and will be provided with driving means and with ink-regulating devices in a well-known manner. A suitable ink-receiving member such as a drurn 3, likewise suitably driven is provided, and these are journaled in the press frame 4 in a well-known manner. A ductor roller 5 is mounted to oscillate or move to and Vfr0y between the fountain roller 2 and the ink drum 3, and as shown is rotatably mounted in the outer ends of a pair of arms II, which are keyed at I0 on a shaft I2, journaled in the press side frames 4.

Means are provided by the invention for accurately regulating and fixing the coaction of the ductor roll with the ink drum and with the fountain roller, and for regulating and fixing each of these functions independently of the other, said means being incorporated with the ductor roller actuating mechanism. In the illustrative embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, two side-by-side cams I 6 and I7 are shown separately mounted and fixed on the exterior end of the fountain roller shaft 6, these cams having different tracks, operating in the manner and for the respective purposes hereinafter explained. Actuated and controlled by these cams, respectively, are two sideby-side levers, which are mounted concentric'ally with the ductor roller shaft I2. These levers are independently relatively movable, one lever (34) governing the coaction of the ductor roller and ink drum, and the other lever (2 Ii) governing the dwell ofthe ductor roller on the fountain roller. The lever 34 is acutely angled and lever 2 I is obtusely angled; at their adjacent ends: they cooperate, respectively, with the side-by-side cams I6 and II, while interposed between and connected to their other and spaced apart ends are screw-threaded positioning devices, which devices are mounted in fixed angular relation to shaft I2, on which the ductor roller 5 is mounted and about which it swings. Cooperating with the cam II is a roller IB, rotatably mounted on a pin I9 carried in the inner end 20 of the angled actuating or rocking lever 2I. Lever 2I has a median hub 22, concentric with shaft I2, and for conveniencev is loosely journaled on hub 23 of an arm 24, which arm is fixed by a key 25, to rotate with the shaft I2. Arm 24, being fixed to the shaft I2, is in fixed position relative to the ductor roller, and serves as a regulating and positioningvarm for the actuating levers which are angularly movable on said shaft for the purpose of varying Yand controlling the'movement'of the ductor roller. Cooperating with the cam I6 is a cam roller 3I rotatably mounted in the inner end of the other angled actuating or rocking lever 34. This lever has a median hub 35 journaled on the shaft I2 beside and just within the hub 23 of the arm 24, previously described.

Referring now to the embodied means for variably angularly positioning and maintaining the two bent actuating levers 2| and 34 in fixed angular relation with respect to each other and to the ductor roller shaft I2, the arm 24 is fixed to shaft I2, and so is in fixed angular relation to` the' ductor roller 5 and its carrying arms II, and an outwardly extending supporting block 39 is fixed to the outer end of the arm 24 by means of bolts 40y and 4I (Figs. 1 and 3). A screwthreaded rod 46 is rotatively mounted on block 39 and has threaded engagement with the outer, spaced apart ends of arms 6() and 54 of bent levers 2I and 34. To support screw rod 46, there is pivotally mounted in the outer end of block 39 a stub shaft 43, integral with which is a head 45 having a cylindrical seat, in which is rotatably mounted the screw-threaded positioning rod 46. Rod 46 is held from longitudinal movement by collars 41 and 48 abutting on either side of the head 45. The collar 48 is provided with apertures for the insertion of a turning tool. One end of the positioning rod 46 has a screw-thread 5I threaded into a head 52, which head is pivotally mounted by a stub shaft 53 in the outer end of the arm 54 of the actuating lever 34. The opposite end of rod 46 has a screw-thread 5l, threaded into the interior of a bushing 58, which is rotatably mounted in a head 59, said head having integral therewith a stub shaft 6I, rotatably mounted in the outer end 62 of said arm 66 of the actuating lever 2i. By turning rod 46, the ends of arms 65 and 54 of the two bent levers 34 and 2I may be moved nearer together or farther Y apart, and also relatively to arm 24 and the ductor roller 5 and its arms I'I. Means are provided for firmly clamping lever 2I to arm 24 in anyY angular position to which the levers are brought by the screw rod 46. Accordingly a screw bolt 63 extends through a bearing washer 64 and an aperture 63a in arm 24 (Figs. 1 and 6) and is screw threaded into arm 54 of lever 34 and clamps the lever 34 and arm 24 firmly in position and prevents undue strain on the rod 46 and associated parts.

Means are also provided, in accordanceV with one feature of the invention for varying the angular position of actuating lever 2l relatively to arm 24A and the ductor roller while leaving the lever 34 undisturbed; that is, lever 2i is moved angularly relatively to the other actuating lever and to shaft yI-2, but the relation of the lever 34V is undisturbed. Accordingly, a hand wheel 65 has a centrally apertured, tubular hub 66 fitting over thev outer end of the bushing `58 and fixed thereto by a clamping screw 6?. On the inner side of the head 59 the bushing has an annular fia-nge 68. By turning the hand wheel 53, the lever 2| may be moved angularly without disturbing the lever 34, and thus the time and point of the engagement of lever ZI with cam I1, and the period of dwell of the ductor roller at the fountain roller may be varied and determined as desired. Means are provided for clamping the rod 46 and bushing 58 in position, and as embodied the head 59 is split on its outer side as shownY a't ill, and a threaded bolt 'II passes through both of the split parts and is pinned -to` tlie'lower partvatvIZ-g A nut 13 is screw-threaded onto the bolt 1|, and is preferably provided with a handle 14. The hand wheel 65 is preferably provided with an annular scale 16 with which cooperates a ypointer 11 mounted on the head-59, which serve as an indicator in effecting nice adjustment of the dwell. Resiliently acting means are provided impelling the ductor roller and its system of actuating levers toward the fountain roller, the resulting movement being under the control of the cams I6 and I1 on the fountain roller shaft. For this purpose a'tension spring 19 has one end fastened to an extension of arm 24 and the other end fastened to the press frame. This spring acts continuously to hold rollers 3| and I8 to their cams.

YThe manner of operation of the precedingly described mechanism is substantially as follows: When the press is running, the ink distributing drum 3 and the fountain roller 2 are driven from the press in any suitable manner, and the supply of ink to the fountain roller from the fountain is governed by suitable devices, not shown. The cam rollers 3| and I8 are yieldingly held by spring 19 to the corresponding cams I6 and I1, which cams rotate together, to effect and govern the action of the ductor roller 5. Considering the ductor roller at the fountain roller, at the proper time cam I6 swings lever 34 counterclockwise, and with it the entire lever system (due to the connection through screw rod 46) and thereby the cam I5 brings the ductor roller 5 against the ink drum, and controls the period of dwell of the ductor roller on the ink drum. As the cam I6 continues to rotate, the ductor roller is carried away from the ink drum 3 as lever 34 follows cam I6 under the impulsion of spring 19. At a predetermined point, and before the ductor roller 5 touches the fountain roller 2, the control of the lever system, and therewith of the ductor roller 5, passes to lever 2| and the cam I6, which controls the amount of dwell of the ductor roller on the fountain roller. At the close of the predetermined period of dwell at the fountain roller, the ductor roller` is moved in the opposite direction against the action of the spring 19, and cam I5 again engages with cam roller 3| of lever 34 and moves the ductor roller again into engagement with the ink drum 3. The dwell of the ductor roller 5 at the ink drum 3 is determined by the conformation of the cam I6 and the angular set of lever 2| and may be varied through a wide range from a suitable minimum to a suitable maximum. The period of dwell of the ductor roller on the fountain roller is regulated by turning the hand wheel |55, which changes the angular position of the lever 2| alone (as previously described), and thus changes the relative position of the cam roller |8 relatively to the cam roller 3| angularly about the pivotal centers of their levers, which determines the point at which the control of the lever system passes from one cam to the other, and also determines both the time and the extent of arc during which the ductor roller engages with the fountain roller, thereby to vary the dwell desired. The magnitude of the angle between the ductor roller arms and both cam actuated levers may be varied as desired, and this is effected by concurrently, equally and oppositely varying the angular position of both levers 2| and 34 relatively to the arm 24, which is keyed to the shaft I2, to which the ductor roller arms are also keyed. This is effected by turning the screw-threaded rod 46 in either direction as required, and thereby the relative position of the cam rollers I8 and 3| are concurrently varied angularly with respect to their cams I1 and I6 in equal amount but in opposite directions. Thisv varies the amount of arcuate movement of the entire lever system and provides adjustment for ductor rollers of different diameters. With a ductor roller of given size the system is set to effect proper contact with the ink drum and proper dwell on the ink fountain roller. Should a ductor roller of different diameter be substituted, when the latter roller is set to the same contact with the ink drum as had the rst roller, then the new ductor will have the same contact and Vtime of contact on the fountain roller as had the former ductor roller.

Referring now to the embodied form of mechanism adapted for a press having a plurality of inking fountains, for instance, a press designed to print either in one color or in multi-color, that is, a press having two alternately usable ink fountains, fountain rollers and ductor rollers, as exemplarily shown in Figs. l to 13, certain parts which are the same in both of the illustrated forms, and have been previously described and designated, are indicated by the same reference numerals in Figs. 7 to 13, and will not be further described. In this form the one fountain roller is indicated by 2 and the other fountain roller by 2a, and one ductor roller by 5 and the other ductor roller by 5a. The arms of the ductor roller 5 and the arms ||a of the ductor roller 5il may be integral and be keyed to the shaft I2 at I0 as already described. Only one of the ductor rollers 5 or 5a is mounted in the mechanism at any one time, dependent on whether the press is running in one color or the other. Referring now to Figs. 7 to 13 in further detail, an outer lever 84 has a hub 85 loosely mounted on the hub 86 of a central arm 81, which is keyed to the shaft I2 at 25. This arm 81 corresponds to the arm 24 previously described, and is keyed in fixed angular relation to the shaft I2 and carries the rotatable screw rod 46, and associated parts that control the angular position of the other levers to vary and regulate the amplitude of vibration on the ductor roller. With this form of mechanism it is necessary to change the direction of pull of the spring 19 which impels the ductor roller toward the fountain roller, under control of the cams, from one side to the other of shaft I2. For this purpose the spring is selectively settable, and accordingly two arms 93 and 94 are formed integral with and extend outwardly on opposite sides from the hub 86 of the arm 81. An arcuate bar 95 is supported on the outer ends of the two arms by means of screw bolts 96 and 91. Near either end of the bar 95 are screw-threaded apertures 98 and 99, and the plate IBB to which the spring 19 is hooked may be changed to either end of the bar 95 and held in place by a screw bolt IUI, dependent upon whichever ink fountain is being run. The inside lever |06 has a hub |91 loosely mounted on the shaft I2 within and alongside of the hub 86, and this lever has an arm whose outer end 54 carries the pivoted head 52 which has screw-threaded engagement with the rod 46 as already described. In this form the lever |06 differs from the lever 34 in that it has two roller bearing arms |08 and |99', these arms terminating respectively in yokes |09 and I I0 in which are rotatively mounted respectively cam rollers and I I2 which cooperate with the cam I6 similarly to the cam roller 3| in the other form. The cam rollers III and ||2 are brought alternately into operative relation with the cam I6, dependent upon the position of the spring 19 and also upon CII Whichever of the two inking fountains and fountain rollers are in use. When the roller Il Il is in use, the roller is moved to inoperative position by turning the hand wheel 65, thereby swinging the lever 3Q in clockwise position in Fig. 7, theV extent of this movement being limited by the stop screw i I which is screw-threaded into an arm il? extending laterally from the lower end of the lever arm 86. The stop screw contacts with the back face of the yoke i I9 on the arm Hi8 and limits the outward movement ofthe upper end 52 of lever 8i and prevents turning' hand wheel t and bushing 58 olf the screwthread 51.

The manner of operation of this form of embodiment will be understood from the statment of operation of the preceding form, the locus and direction of pull ofthe spring 79 being shifted as already described to bring either the one fountain mechanism or the other into operation.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention 'and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, an actuating cam for one of said levers, an actuating cam for 'another of said levers, and means for variably angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms to govern the dwell of the ductor roller at the fountain roller.

2. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating, cams for said levers, and means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

3. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor rollei` and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductar roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means for simultaneously and equally variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

4. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms, means for variably angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to said ductor roller arms without disturbing the position of another of said llevers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

5. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means including a member having screw-threaded engagement with a plurality of said levers for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor yroller arms.

6. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means including a member having screw-threaded engagement with a plurality of said levers for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms and means for angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to said ductor roller arms without disturbing the position of another of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

7. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum., a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means including a member having screw-threaded engagement with a plurality of said levers for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms and screwthreaded means for angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to said ductor roller arms without disturbing the position of another of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

8. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of 'le- Vers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means including a member in fixed angular relation with the ductor roller arms and having screw-threaded engagement with a plurality of said levers for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

9. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor ro-ller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking 'the ductor roller and its arms, said levers being kmounted concentrically with said arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means 'for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

10. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller,V an ink drum, a lductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, said levers being mounted concentrically with said arms, actuating cams for said levers, and means for simultaneously and equally variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

11. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for .rocking the -ductor roller and its arms, said levers being mounted concentrically with said'arms,r actuating cams for said levers, and means vfor variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms, means for variably angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to said ductor roller arms without `disturbing the position of another of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

12. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, said levers passing successively into operating relation with their respective cams to oppositely move and govern the ductor roller and its arms, and means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

13. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, said levers passing successively into operating relation with their respective cams to oppositely move and govern the ductor roller and its arms, means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms, and means for variably angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to said ductor roller arms Without disturbing the position of another of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

14. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, said levers being mounted concentrically with said arms, actuating cams for said levers, said levers passing successively into operating relation with their respective cams to oppositely move and govern the ductor roller and its arms, and means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

' 15. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, said levers being mounted concentrically with said arms, actuating cams for said levers, said levers passing successively into operating relation with their respective cams to oppositely move and govern the ductor roller and its arms, means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms, and means for variably angularly positioning one of said levers relatively to said ductor roller arms without disturbing the position of another of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms.

16. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, actuating cams for said levers, means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms, and means resiliently impelling said levers toward their cams.

17. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, said levers being mounted concentrically with said arms, actuating cams for said levers, means for variably angularly positioning a plurality of said levers relatively to the ductor roller arms, and means resiliently impelling said levers toward their cams.

18. A rotary printing press having inking mechanism provided with a plurality of fountain rollers and including in combination rotary ink receiving means, means for alternatively vibrating a ductor roller between a selected fountain roller and said ink receiving means comprising a plurality of pivoted actuating levers, rotary cam means cooperating with said levers, and spring means selectively settable to impel a ductor roller towards a selected fountain roller.

19. A rotary printing press having inking mechanism provided with a plurality of fountain rollers and including in combination rotary ink receiving means, means for alternatively vibrating the ductor roller between a fountain roller` and said ink receiving means comprising a plurality of pivoted actuating levers, one of said levers having a plurality of arms alternatively cooperating with cam means, rotary cam means cooperating with said levers, and spring means selectively settable to impel a ductor roller towards a selected fountain roller.

20. A rotary printing press having inking mechanism provided with a plurality of fountain rollers and including in combination rotary ink receiving means, a plurality of pairs of arms for mounting ductor rollers, a shaft to which said pairs of arms are fixed, a regulating arm fixed to said shaft, a plurality of actuating levers pivoted on said shaft, means for variably angularly positioning said levers and said regulating arm, cam equipped means for vibrating said actuating levers, one of said levers having a plurality of arms each carrying a cam roller, and spring means settable to impel either one of said arms or the other into operative relation with the cam means.

21. A rotary printing press inking mechanism including in combination a fountain roller, an ink drum, a ductor roller and arms on which the ductor roller is mounted, a plurality of levers for rocking the ductor roller and its arms, means for rocking said levers, means for simultaneously and equally varying the angular relation of said levers to the ductor roller arms, and means for varying the angular relation of one of said levers with respect to another lever and to the ductor roller arms.

CHARLES ALONZO HARLESS. 

